Senate panel seeks FIA action over employees’ housing society

A Senate subcommittee on interior on Monday expressed dissatisfaction with the Federal Investigation Agency over delays in its inquiry into alleged irregularities in the Senate Employees Cooperative Housing Society and directed the agency to submit a progress report at its next meeting.

The committee took up complaints regarding the housing society, established to provide residential plots to Senate employees.

Subcommittee convener Senator Saifullah Abro said the panel had ordered an inquiry into the matter three months ago, but no meaningful progress had been reported.

“It has been three months, but nothing has happened,” Abro said, calling for action against those responsible for alleged irregularities in the society.

He said the housing scheme had been created for Senate employees, who had also deposited money for plots, but many had received no benefit even after about two decades.

“If someone has turned the society into a personal fiefdom, this cannot be allowed,” he said. “At the very least, we want to protect the interests of our employees.”

The committee questioned FIA officials about action taken against Sher Ali, the total land held by the society and the options available to affected Senate employees.

Members also raised concerns that a private individual, not a Senate employee, was allegedly exercising control over the society.

Abro raised serious questions about the performance of state institutions and also criticised Pakistan’s low position in international rankings of the judicial system.

FIA officials told the committee that audits of housing societies had been conducted at the Supreme Court's orders. They said the agency would provide the committee with any available data relating to the Senate employees’ society.

The officials also informed the panel that a case had been registered against the society’s management.

The committee expressed concern over the pace of the investigation and warned that failure to comply with its directives would undermine the purpose of the subcommittee.

The convener directed the FIA to take further action and submit a detailed report at the committee’s next meeting.

FIA officials assured the panel that the agency would report on the case's progress at the next hearing.